Babes on the Beach

[notsogroovy]

Raven wasn't sure where Charles' parents were. She wasn't sure whether she and Charles had been to run off or maybe the parents had run off before, but it didn't matter. She and Charles were alone and they had some pocket change for snacks and they were walking along the beach. She'd stared the first time she'd seen the water. It didn't seem to end and, even though she'd seen maps that said differently, she was convinced that the water just went on and on and never ended. She kept gently tugging Charles a little bit closer each time they took a step. She didn't just want to ask him to go to the water with her. She still wasn't sure enough of their relationship to do that. She just hoped that she could encourage him a little.

She also wasn't sure enough of their relationship to ask him to buy her one of those ice things they were coming up on. They were cold, which would be nice on a hot day like this, and they were colorful, and they looked delicious, but she wasn't sure that she wanted to just...ask.

She dropped her eyes immediately when she realized that she wouldn't need to ask. Charles would just know, wouldn't he? He was so nice to her. How could she ask him to get her something like that? Food, maybe, and clothes, but sweets? No. Definitely not. She was apologizing to him profusely in her thoughts almost before she'd had a chance to think them. Still, she couldn't help but look at them a little longingly.

Comments

[butwedonot]

It was a curious thing, to have someone so aware of his presence. Mother knew and Father had known of him, of course, but they didn't behave in quite the same way Raven did. She was his age, a comfort to him and someone he could comfort. A oddity, like himself, the first close connection he's had in some time since Kurt came to live with them after the death of his Father. He turns his attention toward her, the smaller figure beside him-- and he curls his hand a little tighter around her own, a gentle squeeze and a small smile. "It's alright, Raven." He gives a small tug to her arm, pulls her toward the small cart and the server there. Free hand digging into the pockets of his shorts for some change, he's got enough to get them both a dreamcicle.

Grabbing the first with his free hand he passes it along to Raven, after peeling the wrapping down and offering it up. He takes the second and tugs the wrapping down before taking a small nibble at the corner. "I wonder if the boardwalk is still open..?"

[notsogroovy]

Raven is both blushing and beaming at him. She licks the dreamsicle a few times and then is compelled to lean over and give him a cold, sloppy kiss on the cheek as thank you for the treat. He always knows how to make her feel special. That's one of the things she loves about him. She shrugs about the Boardwalk. "We can go anyway?"

It's not like she hasn't gotten into her fair share of places she shouldn't be. Like Charles' kitchen, posing as his mother. She's sure she can figure out some way to get them inside if it is closed.

[butwedonot]

He laughs a little, the cold kiss sending a chill through him as he tilts his head to the side to rub his cheek off on his shoulder and remove the bit of popsicle that attempted to stick to his skin. He nods a little at the request and slides his fingers back against her palm, grasping her hand once more and walking with her toward the wooden walkway that would take the set of them to the boardwalk. He doesn't worry about his mother anymore than he's sure she's worried about him.

"Maybe we can get on one of the rides." He turns his smile on her, though his words are a little staggered between the cold of the ice cream and his attempts to eat it and talk at the same time.

[notsogroovy]

Raven clutches his hand and swings their arms a little. She has the best brother in the world, she's sure of it. Ice cream and now rides. She can't seem to stop smiling. She doesn't want to stop smiling, even if her cheeks hurt a little. She thinks about it. Going for a ride. "The carousel, maybe?" she suggests, trying to think what other rides there would be and what else might be fun. If he's been here before, he'll know what kinds of rides there'll be. She only knows the carousel because the big, bouncing horses were pretty much everywhere when there was the word 'ride'.

[butwedonot]

"I think the carousel would be best," He agrees gently as he gives a gentle squeeze to her hand again. Licking his own snack and continuing to nibble upon his snack. He doesn't mind wandering around for the afternoon, and the carousel was a small ride that would be easy for her first go. Charles likes having time to spend, even if the two of them might get in trouble for wandering off-- if his mother noticed, that is. Charles hurried up a little, hoping they could try and enjoy their day and remain out of trouble.

[notsogroovy]

Out of trouble might be asking too much. Raven plans on getting them into trouble at least once today. Not bad trouble, just the kind that will have them running off and laughing together with someone waving a fist behind them. Charles is wonderful, he really is, but sometimes she wonders if he knows how to have real fun. That's what she's here for. To show him how to have fun and you can't have real fun without getting into just a little trouble.

[butwedonot]

Charles, admittedly, doesn't really know how to have fun-- he's the byproduct of strict parenting, studies and the inability to do much else even if he were so inclined to. He is, however, also a sap and willing to go along with Raven on whatever silly adventure she has in mind. So once they reach the fair he drags her along through the booth when the ticket taker isn't looking, ducking through a crowd and then heading inward to get them out of sight before he notices.

[notsogroovy]

Raven starts giggling as soon as they're out of earshot. Charles might not know how to have fun, but he knows how to get away with stuff and that's definitely the first step. Once he's dragged her inside, she starts dragging them over to the carousel. "Come on. Pick your favorite horse." He's going to pick his favorite and she's going to pick hers: whichever is the one next to his favorite.

[butwedonot]

"I want the white one." He seems a little awed at the large horse, almost stunned at the sight of it. Huge, white, with a golden saddle. Sure it was a little worn, some of the paint chipped-- but Charles had never seen anything like it. He doesn't hop on though, instead turning toward Raven. "Which one is your favorite? I'll help you up?"

[notsogroovy]

There's a gorgeous black horse a few away from his and a plain-looking brown one with a chipped nostril right next to Charles. She looks between them for a minute and then makes a decision. "The brown one." Maybe the black one looks nicer, but the brown one is right next to Charles and that makes all the difference. She lifts her chin and nods again. She's set. Definitely the brown one.

[butwedonot]

He doesn't notice, not really, she seems set on the brown one and he won't argue with her. Instead he grabs her around the waist and helps hoist her onto the horse and make sure she's got a good grip before he lets go. "Hold onto the pole, and don't let go, okay?" He asked softly as he pressed a soft kiss to the side of her head before he sidestepped over to the white horse and yanked himself up on to it. Getting situated he waited for the ride to kick in, leaning against the pole and smiling at Raven.

[notsogroovy]

"I knoooow how to ride a carousel, silly." Still, she beams at him because he's actually looking out for her. "If you think I need to hold on tightly for this kind of ride, I should take you to one of the roller coasters. You need to be bigger, first."

That's one of the benefits about being who she is. She can make herself bigger to go on the bigger-people's rides. Charles might be older, but he can't do that.

[butwedonot]

"Pff." He snorts a little, but it's true. Raven could sneak onto any ride she liked, but Charles was always the smaller of the two in stature. He looks ahead for a moment before back to his sister; "I could probably trick them, with my mind-- but I don't think it would be a safe idea." Lest Charles end up falling out of the cart and ending up wounded or worse. "Maybe sometime they'll make some for kids, hm?"